Powder Horn 1935 - 1942

This is Edward White’s ‘Powder Horn,’ made sometime between 1855 and 1995. It’s got this amazing swirl, a dance of pinks and browns weaving through the form, and it makes you wonder about the art of making things. The texture is so delicate; you can almost feel the smoothness of the glass, or whatever material the powder horn is made of. Look closely, and you'll see the transparency in those lighter areas. It’s like White wanted us to see the object and the light passing through it. Take a moment to focus on the point where the horn starts to widen. The lines thicken and then thin out, creating a rhythmic movement. It’s kind of like how Diebenkorn played with color and line, creating these open, airy spaces, or, in a different way, how Morandi seemed to contemplate one object for his whole life, but White does it in the swirl. So, this piece isn’t just about what we see, but how we see, and maybe even how we remember.